How to Get to Antigua from Guatemala City

Here’s how to get from Guatemala City or La Aurora airport to Antigua (or vice versa), with options at every price point. Note that the prices listed below are accurate as of January 2026 but may change.

How to Get to Antigua from Guatemala City

Chicken Bus

The chicken bus is a cheap and authentic local experience. But I don’t recommend it when carrying all of your belongings, traveling after dark, or after a tiring, long flight. Crime is an issue, the driving can be dangerous, the buses are packed, and it will be a bumpy ride! Your luggage will go on top of the bus, where it could get stolen. The chicken buses going to Antigua depart from El Trebol bus station in Guatemala City. If you’re going to El Trebol from the airport, it’s an hour’s walk or about $5 with an Uber or taxi. The buses depart regularly throughout the day and cost around 15 Q ($2). The journey takes 1.5-2 hours because the bus will make stops along the way before arriving at the bus station in Antigua.

U.S. government employees are not allowed to take public transportation in Guatemala, given the “high chance of crime and injury.” While USG policies are extremely risk-averse to protect American officials overseas, this should give you an idea of the risks involved when taking chicken buses.

Shared Shuttle

This shared shuttle costs $24/person. At that price, which is standard for this route, it is just as cost-effective to book a private shuttle if you are more than one person. Keep in mind with shared shuttles in Guatemala that you get what you pay for. You may wait an hour for the shuttle and spend an hour picking passengers up. The trip takes 1.5-2 hours, depending on traffic and the time it takes to pick up others. There are six departure times from 6 AM to 7:30 PM, which doesn’t work for all flight arrival times.

Uber or Taxi

An Uber from Guatemala City or airport to Antigua generally costs about $45-$55, depending on demand and availability. A private shuttle costs about the same, so I would choose that instead, especially if you’re a solo traveler, for added safety, customer service, and comfort. For taxis from the airport, officials advise only taking Guatemalan Tourism Institute-approved taxis from the airport’s “SAFE” stand.

Private Shuttle

A private shuttle is the least stressful, most reliable, and comfortable option. The ride to Antigua is about an hour, depending on traffic. The price of private shuttles is based on the number of passengers, costing as little as $50 for 1-2 people. Below are reputable providers to choose from depending on whether you’re departing from the city or airport, flight times from the airport, and number of people.